NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
62 reportsClear category filter70,000 miles · Aug 24, 2012
Engine And Engine CoolingStructureFire
AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. STOPPED THE CAR AND THOUGHT OF OPENING THE HOOD BUT SAW FLAMES. THREE ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN (5 AND 2 YRS OLD) GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CALLED POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE ENGINE AND FR…
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AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A MILE, THE AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED AND BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. STOPPED THE CAR AND THOUGHT OF OPENING THE HOOD BUT SAW FLAMES. THREE ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN (5 AND 2 YRS OLD) GOT OUT OF THE CAR. CALLED POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE. BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE CAR WAS IN FLAMES. THE ENGINE AND FRONT ROW SEATS WERE TOTALLY BURNT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WAS NO WAY TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE (MYSTERIOUS) FIRE. THIS HAPPENED IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472395
142,000 miles · Feb 7, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE AND TURNING IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.
NHTSA ODI #10381034
167,000 miles · Nov 3, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY EXHIBIT A NO-START CONDITION. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE C…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD OCCASIONALLY EXHIBIT A NO-START CONDITION. SHE ALSO NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 167000. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD BECOME EXCESSIVELY HOT. UPDATED 12/08/09*JB
NHTSA ODI #10290804
42,000 miles · May 6, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER HEARD A GUSHING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OIL WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STAT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER HEARD A GUSHING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OIL WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE ENGINE OIL PAN GASKET. THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS BETWEEN 42,000-44,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #10267830
250,220 miles · Dec 15, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD TAURUS 1998 ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR (PLASTIC CONTAINER) SPRUNG A LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. NO INDICATION OF ANY RUBBING AGAINST ANYTHING. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT FROM AN ON-LINE INTERNET PARTS WHOLESALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY ORDERS FOR REPLACEMENT FORD TAURUS ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLES. I NEVER HAD SUCH A…
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FORD TAURUS 1998 ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR (PLASTIC CONTAINER) SPRUNG A LEAK ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. NO INDICATION OF ANY RUBBING AGAINST ANYTHING. I ORDERED A REPLACEMENT FROM AN ON-LINE INTERNET PARTS WHOLESALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAD MANY ORDERS FOR REPLACEMENT FORD TAURUS ENGINE COOLANT RESERVOIR BOTTLES. I NEVER HAD SUCH A PROBLEM ON ANY PREVIOUS CAR THAT I HAVE OWED BEFORE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10251798
82,000 miles · Jan 12, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE OIL IS LEAKING ON EXHAUST SYSTEM FROM BACK SIDE OF ENGINE. STRONG SMELL AND OIL ON GROUND' 81,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. I PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW. REPLACED VALVE COVER GASKETS. STILL LEAKING OIL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214620
Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
STUCK THERMOSTAT CAUSED A BOIL OVER. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE INTEGRATED PRESSURE/OVERFLOW BOTTLE CRACKED AND CAUSED A MAJOR LOSS OF COOLANT. THIS ALSO LEAD TO THE HEATER CORE BECOMING BLOCKED DUE TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT. UPDATED 12/07/07 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10201877
98,811 miles · May 10, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling
SMOKE WAS RISING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND FOUND OIL WAS RUNNING DOWN AND HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE SMOKE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS BULGED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 3/4" THUS ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT OF THE OIL PAN. OIL P…
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SMOKE WAS RISING FROM UNDERNEATH CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE. TURNED ENGINE OFF AND FOUND OIL WAS RUNNING DOWN AND HITTING THE HOT EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING THE SMOKE. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR FACILITY. REPAIR FACILITY FOUND THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS BULGED OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE ABOUT 3/4" THUS ALLOWING OIL TO RUN OUT OF THE OIL PAN. OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10157177
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
1998 FORD TAURUS ENGINE FAILED. *TS THE VEHICLES ENGINE FAILED WHILE ON AN EXIT RAMP. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK FOUR HIGHWAY SIGNS AND POLES. THE VEHICLE LEFT REAR DOOR, LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL, LEFT REAR BUMPER AND RIGHT SIDE RUNNING PANEL WERE DAMAGED. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10148639
105,000 miles · Dec 7, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO HEAT. TOOK OUR 1998 FORD TAURUS 6CYL.,3.0L,182FI VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF NO HEAT. I AM TOLD FROM THE FORD SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE IS RUST IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED BY A METAL ALLERGY REACTION FROM THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER BLADE AND THE ANTIFREEZE COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSE RUST THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE…
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NO HEAT. TOOK OUR 1998 FORD TAURUS 6CYL.,3.0L,182FI VEHICLE TO DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF NO HEAT. I AM TOLD FROM THE FORD SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THERE IS RUST IN THE COOLANT SYSTEM CAUSED BY A METAL ALLERGY REACTION FROM THE WATER PUMP IMPELLER BLADE AND THE ANTIFREEZE COOLANT IN THE SYSTEM WHICH CAUSE RUST THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE, FREEZE PLUGS, HEATER CORE, THERMOSTAT AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT/BREAKDOWN DUE TO LACK OF WATER/COOLANT CIRCULATION. FORD ANSWER: REPLACE WATER PUMP WITH UPGRADED WATER PUMP, FLUSH SYSTEM WITH ANTI-RUST CHEMICALS, REPLACE FREEZE PLUGS, REPLACE HEATER CORE, HOSES, THERMOSTAT AND REFILL WITH ANTI-FREEZE COOLANT AT A COST OF @ $1700.00. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON IT SINCE I'VE OWN IT 10/1999, IE. OIL CHANGES @5000K MI., COOLANT FLUSH @1/YR., BRAKES & TIRES CHECK/SERVICE @5000K MI. I BELIEVE FORD KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM OR THEY WOULDN'T HAVE UPGRADED THE WATER PUMP TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPLACEMENT OF THIS DEFECTIVE PART AND RELATED COMPONENTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10144671